The Monster That Grew Small: An Egyptian Folktale

by Joan Grant, Jill Karla Schwarz (Illustrator)

A retelling of an Egyptian folktale in which a timid boy finds courage by going after a monster that seems to shrink when confronted.

Genres: Picture Books

32 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1987

Reviews

[Brennan Wieland · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great story about fears and how they seem to shrink when we face them. In this case, the monster at the top of the mountain represents our fears. When the boy in the story confronted the dragon, it seemed to shrink the nearer he came, but when he ran away from it, it seemed to get larger and larger. When he finally reached the top of the mountain, the dragon was so small that he could hold it in his hand. When he brought the dragon down to the village below everyone couldn't believe it. When the asked what the dragon's name was, he replied, "What-Might-Happen."

[Joel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite childhood book and just wanted to add it to the list, I still have the tattered copy that was read to me as a boy and hope one day to write a short story based on the idea of the monster that shrinks as you face it without fear.

[Lady Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't even BEGIN to tell you how much I could relate to this story (plus the illustrations were freaking amazing).

[Samantha wickedshizuku Tolleson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the library addition, and it's quiet battered making it difficult to appreciate the art. At the heart of it though I really liked the story.